Tag Archives: politics

Publisher's note: Our editorial criticized mayoral candidate Jim Tibbs for his press conference calling Mayor Dave Bieter's ethics into question. In the interest of fairness, we are running Councilman Tibbs' response.
To be clear: Had the resolution to pay $65,000.00 to the Gallatin Group been decided on the date scheduled by Mayor Dave Bieter, I would have demanded to know in council chambers why taxpayers are paying to support Bieter’s “uniquely qualified” political cronies and handlers. The standard I look for in governance allows every citizen to know that their mayor and council will always act forthright and independently.
It is important to review the events leading up to my complaint to the Ethics Commission. It is my responsibility and right as a citizen, a council member, and as a candidate to question the relationship between Bieter and the Gallatin Group.

At last week’s Yearly Kos convention in Chicago, Hillary Clinton defended lobbyists and the practice of accepting special-interest money for campaigning, saying, “A lot of those lobbyists, whether you like it or not, represent real Americans, they actually do."
In an Associated Press interview, Barack Obama reacted “If you don't think lobbyists have too much influence in Washington, then I believe you've probably been in Washington too long," he said Monday.
John Edwards told the AP, "Democratic candidates, and for that matter all candidates, should just say we're not taking these peoples' money anymore because it's the way to take their power away from them, and it's the way to bring about the change that this country needs."

A recent poll shows that Larry Grant, Democratic candidate for Congress in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, has favorable ratings equal to Republican Congressman Bill Sali, but that Sali’s unfavorable ratings are a standout.
Greg Smith and Associates, a Boise opinion research and consulting firm, conducted the poll using randomly selected and statistically representative Idahoans living in North, Central and Southwestern Idaho who are likely to participate in either the Democratic caucus or Republican primary in February and May, 2008, respectively. The poll interviewed 253 voters July 11-13 and has a margin of error of 5.7%.
Very favorable or somewhat favorable: Sali 29%, Grant 28%
Very unfavorable or somewhat unfavorable: Sali 46%, Grant 13%

If a candidate accuses his opponent of unethical conduct and goes so far as to use the serious word “graft,” the accuser should have a firm hand on the details. At least that’s my theory.
But after a Wednesday press conference when he released a statement charging Mayor Dave Bieter of using taxpayer money to hire his campaign consultant for a city contract, it became clear Jim Tibbs’ story was just that: a story.

I once had a purely moralistic stance against giving money to candidates.
Recently, I find myself wavering between morality, stinginess and the desire to pack my bags and move to a benevolent dictatorship in the tropics.
But, my fellow western Americans, this is not the way of the West. In fact, voters in the eight states of the Mountain West have logged onto their checkbooks at a rate similar to their countrymen on the coasts.
Presidential candidates took $19 million dollars out of the Western states in the first half of 2007. That is only 6.5 percent of the whopping $296 million raised by presidential contenders as of June 30. And since the Western states are home to just about 7 percent of the U.S. population, presidential candidates should be pleased with their Rocky Mountain telemarketers and e-blasters.

Don’t miss Sarrah Benoit’s funny story in this morning’s Idaho Statesman.
Nothing new under the sun here, but it's yet another tale indicating that education apparently doesn’t begin at home in the White House.
Benoit interviewed Rebecca Greenwell, an Eagle high school student, after a trip to Washington, D.C. . Greenwell had breakfast with President Bush, and one of the questions Benoit asked her was, “So, you talked to him?”
Greenwell said, “Ya. I said weird things. He was like, ‘What’s your name?’ I said, ‘Uh blara uh ecca.’ I don’t know why I said that. It was almost like a movie.

Tuesday’s debate in the U.S. Senate over whether to reduce U.S. forces in Iraq (Levin Amendment No. 2087), a motion which was ultimately rejected 52-47 (1 absence) the next morning, included a floor speech by Idaho Senator Larry Craig in which he said,
"... I have worked very hard with my colleagues to lessen the U.S. dependence on foreign oil. However, we are not yet capable of raising production in the United States because we have been blocked by the other side of the aisle from doing so. Therefore, a premature withdrawal from Iraq could have dire consequences with our economy and energy supply; but would also have the same effects on the world economy.”

On one side of the room, you could almost hear the tasteful music; on the other, a college marching band in happy fight song.
Wednesday’s mayoral debate between Jim Tibbs of the Boise city council and Mayor Dave Bieter revealed two candidates who almost agree with each other on most issues, but whose contrasting styles and layers of emphasis couldn’t be more different. Tibbs is like the nice uncle who keeps up with your life, always remembers your birthday and sends a card with money in it. Bieter is your favorite big brother who comes over to watch the game, swinging nieces and nephews over his head to make them scream with delight.
Growth, transportation, the police contract, and the hole-in-the-ground at 8th and Main were discussed more than anything else.

It looks as if Idaho’s Controller, Donna Jones, may have been taken to the woodshed – the one in Governor Butch Otter’s office.
On Monday morning, Jones issued a press release criticizing Otter’s proposal to pay for Idaho’s worsening roads and bridges by raising taxes. She said the state’s current budget surplus of $247 million should be used for needed repairs.
Jones said in the release: “As a former legislator, seeing a surplus of this magnitude brings two thoughts to mind. First, taxes are too high on Idaho’s families. Second, instead of looking at raising taxes to pay for road and bridge repair, the Legislature could potentially use $200 million of this surplus to tackle Idaho’s backlog of road repairs.”
But just an hour or so later, Jones told

The scientific evidence is compelling – global climate change poses a serious threat to Idaho’s public health, natural resources, and environment. It threatens some of our most vital industries including tourism, agriculture, recreation, and forestry.
Addressing climate change requires interstate and international cooperation. At this point, Idaho is not a team player. For example: Six western states and two Canadian provinces have established the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, agreeing to collaborate in identifying, evaluating and implementing ways to reduce greenhouse emissions. Idaho is not a participant.